May: What can I learn from the living prophets and apostles?

All Printables and Handouts found HERE

1. Introduction

• Handout the coded message and give the class a few minutes to solve the code. They won't be able to solve it.
• What might give you a better chance at being successful? (A Key)
• Pass out the key to decipher the code
• Read the message
• What could the coded message and keys have to do with our lives today?

2. Learn together

• Why do you think that Joseph Smith said that prophets and apostles are a key that will never rust?
• Watch the video, "Why do we have prophets?" Discuss the video.
• We know that Heavenly Father has given us prophets to guide us through life, but is that enough? Once we have the words of the prophets, what must we do?
• Elder Neil L. Anderson, "To these men, that ordination brings a spiritual power and a solemn responsibility - a power to know and to testify and a responsibility to teach and to bless. It also brings a responsibility and a promise to us all. We have the responsibility to listen and to foll, and we have a promise that blessings will come as we believe and act on their words."
• While Christ was on the Earth he taught this through the Parable of the Sower. Reach Matthe 13:3-9
• Who is the sower? (The Lord) What does the seed represents? (The word of God) What does the soil represent? (Heart of the person)
• What does this parable teach us?

3. Making it personal

• Pass out the index cards and have the youth take a couple of minutes to write down a time when a "seed" or the words of the prophets guided them, taught them, or helped them.
• In the meantime, I attempted to draw a large flower pot on the board for the next activity.
• Invite the youth to share their seeds.

4. Teaching others

• As a class make a list of challenge that the youth face today.
• Have each youth select one of the challenges and search the most recent conference talks to find counsel that could help someone overcome that challenge. (I went to Deseret Book and bought an Ensign copy for each youth.)
• They will write the counsel they found on the seed, share with the class and put it on the board.

5. Conclusion

• Bear your testimony of the words of the prophets and apostles 
• I focused on the fact that they always come back to the fact that we are children of God. I shared this quote, "A prophet is indeed a revelator, but sometimes what we most need revealed to us is the heart of the gospel we've simply forgotten or overlooked in its simplicity: the Savior loves us, and we are known by Him."
• Then I tied it all back to if we listen to the "seeds" from our prophets and apostles with a heart that is full of good soil, then our testimonies will grow like the fruit in the parable. (I drew a flower coming out of the pot on the chalkboard.) Their word will truly be a key that will not rust. It will be a key to help us return home to our Heavenly Father.

February: How can I use Church music to learn about the plan of salvation?

All Printables Found HERE

1. Introduction

• Display list of music genres. What do these words have in common?
• Have the class think about their favorite type of music. Why is it your favorite?
• I talked about my favorite type of music and why. I also let those in my class share.
• Display Topic Poster.

2. Learn Together

• Pass out hymn books to each class member and have them turn to the First Presidency Preface in the front of the book.
• Read the 1st paragraph and discuss the scripture from D&C. Why do you think that music is important in the Gospel?
• Read the remaining sections in the preface, while discussing what blessings are promised.
• I shared this example from Elder Dallin H. Oaks' talk, "Worship through Music"
• When the Lord’s Apostles meet in modern times, the singing of hymns is still part of their meetings. The weekly meetings of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple always begin with a hymn. Elder Russell M. Nelson plays the organ accompaniment. The First Presidency, who conduct these meetings, rotate the privilege of selecting the opening song. Most of us record the date each hymn is sung. According to my records, the opening song most frequently sung during the decade of my participation has been “I Need Thee Every Hour”. Picture the spiritual impact of the Lord's servants singing that song before praying for his guidance in fulfilling their mighty responsibilities.
• What ways can church music help us in our lives? Do you have any special experience where church music helped you or invited the spirit?

3. Likening the Scriptures

• Can you think of any church songs that teach us about the Plan of Salvation?
• Direct the class to the Topical Guide in the back of the hymn book and find the section titled "Plan of Salvation".
• Musical Notes Matching Game
• I chose 5 hymns from the topical guide to discuss. To make it a little more exciting I created a memory match game. (I left two music notes blank, if you want to add more.)
• Once they found a match, we turned to the hymn, read the scriptures and skimmed through the lyrics. 
• While reading, have them look for things they learn about the Premortal Life, Mortal Life, and Life after Death? I wrote these on the board under the appropriate heading.

4. Making it Personal

• The index card for this week had them answer the question - What did I learn about the plan of salvation from the words of the hymns?

January: How Can I Help Others Learn About Heavenly Father?

All Printables and Videos can be found HERE

1. Introduction

• Follow up on any challenges from last week. 
• What have you learned about the Godhead? Has anything stood out to you? Surprised you? Do you have any questions so far?
• Display topic
• What must we do before we can help others learn about Heavenly Father?
• Have the class answer the question "What do we believe about Heavenly Father?" on the worksheet?
• Discuss what they wrote down.
• Read the quotes from True to the Faith and Preach My Gospel

2. Learn Together

• Once we have an understanding of what we believe in, how can we help others learn about Heavenly Father?
• Based on where the discussion went I have both of these videos ready to watch. 
• Sharing Your Beliefs
• Share the Truth with Others

3. Likening the Scriptures

• We can follow the examples of those who taught in the scriptures. 
• Split the class into two. Have half of the class study Alma 30:12-15 to find reasons why Korihor did not believe in God. The other half of the class will study Alma 30:37-53 to find reasons why Alma did believe in God.
• Have the class share
• (Depending on time, you could have the class do this activity on their own or have each youth read a couple of scriptures.) What can we learn from Ammon and Aaron? How did they help King Lamoni and his father learn about God?
• Ask the youth to share.

4. Making it Personal

• How could help a friend who is unsure of the existence of God?
• How can they apply what they have learned when they have opportunities to explain their beliefs about God?
• Challenge the class to have a conversation with someone about their beliefs... Even if it is as simple as Pres. Uchtdorf's conversations from the video.

5. If it is the last week of the month next week, remind class to bring their scripture study chart to class next time to enter the drawing.

January: How Can Studying the Scriptures Help Me Learn about Heavenly Father?

All Printouts/Videos for this Lesson found HERE

This was my first week teaching my new class, so I did a little Get to Know you Activity.

1. Get to Know You Activity

• Tangled Web from Amy Henning - Sit in a circle on the floor. Hold a ball of yarn. Tell the students something about yourself. Then roll the ball of yarn to someone else without letting go of the end of the yarn. Continue until they have created a giant web. 
• I had everyone stand up while still holding the yarn. I focused on how we need each other to learn and grow and that every ones thoughts and comments are important. If one student drops his or her strand of yarn, our web weakens. What are some reasons why our web might weaken? (Making fun of other comments, distracted during the lesson, etc.)
• I talked about how I hoped that this room could be an environment where we are comfortable sharing our testimonies and knowledge about the topics we will be talking about this year. Also, asking questions that you might have, so that we can discover the answers together.

2. Introduction

• Can you imagine a time when the scriptures were not available to all?
• Watch the video, The Blessings of the Scriptures
• I stole this part from Kar's Kith and Kin, "Ask them to imagine for a minute that they were living in the 1500s. You didn't have scriptures of your own. Your priest chose what scriptures to share with you (or not to share with you). You didn't have the ability to sit down, read scriptures yourself, and commune with Heavenly Father. There is a reason this period of time was called the Dark Ages."
• What happens to those who do not have or do not use the scriptures?
• What are the blessings of reading the scriptures?
• Read the quotes in the printouts

3. Scriptures Challenge

• This year I really wanted to focus on reading the scriptures daily. I created a scriptures chart with the theme for this month of The Godhead. On the back they can write down what they learned about the Godhead while they are reading the scriptures this month. Then at the end of the month, they get entered into a drawing. 5 entries for reading every day. 1 entry for each thing they learned. 
• Display Topic

4. Liken the Scriptures

• List on the board truths that they know about God
• Go to the Topical Guide and find scriptures that teach those truths. I had half of the class look up "God, Love of" and "God, Wisdom of". List the scripture next to the truth on the board.
• Why are the scriptures important in helping us understand God?

5. Learn Together (I had to skip this becuase I was running out of time)

• Divide up into groups and read the scriptures listed in Part 1 of the handouts. What did you learn about Heavenly Father? What was your favorite verse?
• 2 Nephi 26:23-33
• Mosiah 2:19-25
• D&C 1:17-39
• 1 Nephi 1:8-20

6. Making it Personal

• Individually read "God" in the Bible Dictionary. Write down one thing they learned about God and look up any related scriptures. Share with class or neighbors. 

7. Conclusion

• Is there anything that stands out to you today?
• Do you have a greater understanding of something in particular?
• Do you have any other questions?